The next morning, Aurelia Delensar awoke to find Caelum Valtaris absent.
"Nini? Where are you…"
She called out several times, but the dark-skinned knight who usually appeared at her beck and call was nowhere to be seen.
Aurelia threw off the covers and stepped out of bed, pushing open the door to the hallway.
The inn's wide corridor was eerily silent.
The plush carpet beneath her feet made her forget she wasn't wearing shoes. She took a few steps before a white blur darted past her.
It was a rabbit, half her height, hopping down the stairs and turning the corner.
"Oh! What a cute bunny! Come here, let me hold you!"
Aurelia exclaimed, lifting the hem of her nightgown as she chased after it.
The rabbit paused, then quickened its pace.
The spoiled princess wasn't about to be ignored. "Don't you dare run! Come here!"
The rabbit froze, its long ears drooping as it obediently turned around.
It hopped over to Aurelia, nuzzling her knee with its fluffy head.
"You're adorable!"
Aurelia's eyes sparkled.
The rabbit was pure white, soft, and had the most endearing floppy ears.
Instantly, her stomachache seemed to vanish.
She bent down to pick it up, but it was heavier than she expected.
Just as she was about to give up, the rabbit suddenly felt as light as a feather, perfectly manageable.
Aurelia didn't question it. She hugged the rabbit to her chest, nuzzling its soft fur and stroking its ears.
Her royal upbringing kept her from burying her face in its belly, but she couldn't resist running her fingers along its back.
"My lady."
A deep, measured voice, laced with a hint of coldness, came from behind her.
Aurelia froze.
It was the kind of tension one feels when caught red-handed.
Both the rabbit and the princess turned their heads, their red eyes meeting the figure at the end of the hallway.
Aurelia forced a smile. "Hi, Nini."
Caelum said nothing.
Backlit by the light, his expression was unreadable.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and returned to his usual stoic demeanor.
The tall knight walked over, plucked the rabbit from Aurelia's arms by its ears, and set it down on the floor.
Before Aurelia could protest, he scooped her up, seating her on his arm.
"Ah!"
Her sudden elevation made her gasp, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
She barely noticed the rabbit, which had been unceremoniously dropped onto the carpet.
The rabbit winced, rubbing its sore behind, and glanced at the menacing black wolf before darting away.
Caelum focused on Aurelia, cradling her small foot. "My lady, you're not wearing shoes. You'll catch a chill during your cycle."
Aurelia, ever rebellious, disliked being scolded. Even when she knew she was in the wrong, the spoiled princess couldn't help but retort, "Nini, you're so naggy."
Caelum remained silent.
His dark hands cradled her pale foot, the contrast striking and almost unsettling.
His golden eyes darkened.
His warm fingers brushed the sole of her foot, and Aurelia squirmed, her brow furrowing in irritation.
She tried to kick him away, but he firmly held her ankle in place.
"!"
A tingling sensation shot up her leg, and her body went limp.
"You—"
Aurelia glared up at him, but her words caught in her throat.
Caelum's expression was as calm as ever, but his golden eyes were devoid of human emotion, cold and predatory.
Like the sun atop a snowy peak—brilliant but devoid of warmth.
Danger loomed.
Aurelia froze, too afraid to move.
Her neck prickled as if she were being stalked by a beast, her mind blank.
Instinctively, she submitted to the powerful predator.
"My lady, I'm just cleaning the dust from your feet."
Caelum's tone was respectful, but his actions left no room for refusal.
His warm fingers meticulously wiped away every speck of dust.
Aurelia leaned against his chest, occasionally flinching when he touched a sensitive spot. He knew she was ticklish, yet he feigned ignorance, maintaining his composed demeanor as he continued his task.
A faint smile finally appeared on the knight's stern face.
The princess in his arms had turned into a soft, pliant bundle.
Her cheeks were flushed, like delicate petals trembling on a branch.
Her breathing was as light as the swaying of a crimson bloom.
After what felt like an eternity, Aurelia whispered, "Are you done… Nini?"
She bit her lip, unsure of the strange, unfamiliar sensation coursing through her. She instinctively avoided thinking about it, choosing to forget everything that had just happened.
She didn't want to ask Caelum about it.
Deep down, she knew that if she did, things would spiral out of control.
The slightly satisfied wolf finally released her.
Caelum looked down at the unusually docile princess in his arms, his cold heart melting.
"It's clean now, my lady," he said gently.
He had erased all traces of foreign scents.
And soon, he would choose the right moment to mark her as his own.
She was too prone to wandering.
If he wasn't careful, some cunning beast would snatch her away.